| 2 LeT militants, civilian killed in Kulgam encounter | | |  Saahil Suhail
Early Times Report
Kulgam, Nov 14: Two Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants and a civilian were killed in a fierce gun battle in Chinigam area of Kulgam district that broke out yesterday evening.
Reports said that on Thursday evening militants fired upon the security forces who had condoned off the area on a specific input regarding their presence in the area. Police said that in the 22 hour-long-gunfight two militants were killed. They were identified as Mohammad Abbas Malla of Nowpora and Manzoorul Haq Malik of Chinigam. According to a police handout, one AK rifle and an Insas rifle were recovered from the encounter site.
Abbas, according to police, had joined LeT in 2013 and was involved in an attack on police at Arwani in 2013 and a recent attack on CRPF at Lavdora Qazigund. Police also claimed that Malik was involved in the killing of Nasir Mir in Shupian in May this year and in the Lavdora attack with Malla.
Two army troopers and a paramilitary solider were injured during the encounter. The condition of the army trooper was said to be critical.
Soon after the gunfight ended, locals who had assembled around the encounter site clashed with government forces and hurled stones.
Eye witnesses said that some youth attacked them and their armored vehicles with stones. "People from different localities of the district including Kawdrang, Kujar, Frisal, Shirpora, Arwani, Nawbal Batapora, Mushipora, Khudwani, Reidwani, Havro and other areas gathered at the round-about and were chanting slogans in favour of the slain militants," they added.
In retaliation, witnesses said, forces fired several rounds and a youth Tariq Ahmad Dar allegedly received a bullet in his chest. He was rushed to sub district hospital Bijbehara, but doctors declared him brought dead.
One more civilian Ashiq Hussain also reportedly received injuries. As the news of the death of youth spread in the area, hundreds of people came on roads clashed with security forces.
Police used tear-smoke shells to disperse the protestors in Chanapora, Chenigam, Kharpora, Nowbal and other adjacent areas. Meanwhile, a complete shutdown was also observed at Bijbehara. |
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